rescue mission

noun

plural rescue missions

1

: a city religious mission (see mission entry 1 sense 4a) providing social and spiritual assistance to the poor and needy

The nonprofit, Christian-based rescue mission has provided a variety of social services to the poor and homeless over its 55-year history.

—Janet Lavelle

also : the premises of a rescue mission

I used to go quite often to Charleston, West Virginia to speak in the old rescue mission …

—Lee Roberson

2

: an undertaking to rescue someone or something from a dangerous or difficult situation

They kept him alive that way for more than twenty-four hours, waiting for a helicopter rescue mission that came too late.

—Jamie James

After a 12-hour rescue mission, navy personnel were able to tow the animal safely to land.

—Brigit Katz

Examples of rescue mission in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

June became hopeful that the American rescue mission would lead to a reunion with her daughter, but that was unsuccessful. —Abigail Lee, Variety, 8 Apr. 2025

Officials said emergency dispatchers were immediately notified and sent out to begin the rescue mission. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2025

Structurally vulnerable buildings in the country are still collapsing as tremors continue, according to human rights organizations, highlighting the dangers of the rescue mission. —Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025

The rescue mission only took place after Trump asked SpaceX founder Musk to speed up the return of the astronauts. —Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rescue mission

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition